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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > November > 20 > Entry
Ohio AFL-CIO president blasts Senate GOP budget plan; threatens legal action
Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola said on Friday, Nov. 20, that the labor federation will take legal action if Senate Republicans succeed in substituting $200 million in casino licensing fees for money the state already is spending on regional economic development and job creation plans.
“We simply will not tolerate the Ohio Senate or anyone else diverting money from job creation at a time when working families so clearly need all the help they can get,” Rugola said in a press release.
“We are prepared to litigate this issue on behalf of our 700,000 members and workers in our state.”
Tim Burga, Ohio AFl-CIO chief of staff, said the $200 million in the ballot issue approved by voters on Nov. 3 is supposed to be used for new regional job creation efforts, not to replace money for jobs programs already underway.
The ballot issue calls for casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.
Rugola said that the Ohio AFL-CIO supports the plan passed by the Democratic-controlled House to fill an $851 million budget hole by delaying for two years a 4.2 percent state income tax cut.
Using the $200 million to help fill the hole is part of a Senate GOP plan unveiled this week.
Senate Finance Chairman John Carey, R-Wellston, said that the AFL-CIO has the right to litigate anything it wants to, but added:
“We don’t legislate by threat of lawsuit.”
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Comments
By drunken orangetree
December 3, 2009 7:30 PM | Link to this
Government can’t create lasting jobs, huh? Teaching jobs never last, police jobs never last, firefighting jobs never last. We don’t need regulatory agencies, nor the PO, nor the military, highway departments, or sewage systems. Would it be too much to ask that you think for two seconds before mouthing conservative cliches?
By wakeup
November 25, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this
Just vote the crooks out of office or start a recall process now.Politicians,Ceos and Union Chiefs in this state are lining their pockets with your money.Check out web site GOOOH.COM
By Jon
November 24, 2009 1:24 PM | Link to this
How many union leaders are there, Seems like every time you read an article a different Union leaders name is given, or quoted.With all the union jobs leaving the area I’ll bet there are more union reps than workers.
By fortressdayton
November 22, 2009 2:30 AM | Link to this
As a Union leader he should be concerned with job creation…since he and other union trough-grazers will need jobs if the citizens of our state wake up. Government can’t ‘create’ lasting jobs—that’s welfare. Only the privarte sector creates jobs. Econ 101, Mr. Rugola!
By Rich
November 21, 2009 11:26 PM | Link to this
As Yogi Berra once said, “Deja vu all over again”. Our “leaders” in Columbus have used this shell game repeatedly, most prominently with school funding. New money from the Ohio Lottery simply replaced existing funding that was moved elsewhere in the state budget. Few people paid much attention, so this ploy is repeated constantly. It’s despicable, dishonest and ought to be beneath our “leaders” in Columbus.
By Get Real
November 21, 2009 7:58 PM | Link to this
And where do they think that money comes from? THE TAXPAYERS NOT THE GOP. WHAT AN IDIOT!!!
By John Lewis
November 21, 2009 6:50 PM | Link to this
I see union thuggery is alive and well in the Great State of Ohio.
By maboo
November 21, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this
Ah another bait and switch by the esteemed members of our elected thieves. This is what happens when the people are bamboozled by them. Soc Sec was a ‘trust fund’ meant to be self sustaining…it was. Until the Fed. elected bums decided to use the deposits for anything they wanted and moved them to the general fund. Thinking like this is what got us all into the economic mess we are in. In this case…the union rep is correct.
By Stormin
November 20, 2009 6:19 PM | Link to this
Free Speech for one and all. I may not like or agree with it, but both sides have the right to appear foolish in public.
By Friar
November 20, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this
Just another reason unions should be relegated to the dust bin of history. This guy is an extortionist. Throw him in jail.